Melder's Musings

The Associated Press reports:

CORONADO, Calif. -- President Bush answered growing antiwar protests yesterday with a fresh reason for US troops to continue fighting in Iraq: protection of the country's vast oil fields, which he said would otherwise fall under the control of terrorist extremists.

I believe one of two things is happening here. One: we're finally getting a glimpse into the administration's real reason for going to war. Two: Bush is trying to earn some more of that political capital he's always talking about by prostituting the Katrina devastation and the resulting rise in oil prices.

I pray it's the former. I fear it's the latter.

It's Tuesday. That means I'm a day late in posting the link for this week's Top Ten Conservative Idiots.

Enjoy!

Reuters reports:

US Forces Kill Reuters Journalist

Monday, August 29, 2005

Baghdad - A soundman working for Reuters Television was shot dead Sunday in Baghdad, and a cameraman with him was wounded and then detained by United States soldiers. An Iraqi police report, read to Reuters by an Interior Ministry official, said the two had been shot by American forces.

A United States military spokesman, Lt. Col. Steven A. Boylan, said the incident was being investigated, and an official statement indicated that the Americans were responding to an attack on an Iraqi police convoy when the journalists were shot.

The death brings to 66 the number of journalists and their aides killed in Iraq since the start of the invasion in 2003, said Reporters Without Borders, a Paris-based news media rights group. That surpasses the 63 journalists killed over 20 years of conflict in Vietnam, the group said.

The soundman, Waleed Khaled, 35, was struck by a bullet to the face and at least four to the chest as he drove to investigate a report from police sources of an incident involving police officers and gunmen in the Hay al-Adil district in western Baghdad.

Reuters colleagues who arrived shortly after the attack said that the wounded cameraman, Haider Kadhem, said, "I heard shooting, looked up and saw an American sniper on the roof of the shopping center."

He was detained by United States troops and remained in custody 12 hours later, despite requests by Reuters that he be freed to receive medical attention for a wound in his back.

Two Iraqi colleagues who arrived on the scene minutes after the shooting were detained, but soon released.

The United States military statement said: "Task Force Baghdad units responded to a terrorist attack on an Iraqi Police convoy around 11:20 a.m. Aug. 28 in central Baghdad, which killed and wounded several Iraqi police. One civilian was killed and another was wounded by small-arms fire during the attack. After discovering an abandoned car with explosives material, weapons and a cellphone, units began searching the area for the terror suspects who were believed to have fled on foot."

Mr. Khaled had worked for Reuters for two years. He is survived by a wife and daughter. David Schlesinger, Reuters global managing editor, said: "This tragic incident must immediately be investigated thoroughly and impartially."

A typical evening's fare on Crox News.

Things don't seem to be going very well for the self-appointed media protector of all things American, the Australian Rupert Murdoch. His empire, especially its so-called journalistic components, has had a few noticeable hiccups lately.

1. A Los Angeles area family, and their neighbors, are living in fear after the Fox News Channel incorrectly identified their home as belonging to a terrorist.

2. Murdoch's News of the World will pay Justin Timerlake "a substantial undisclosed sum as damages" after falsely accusing him of cheating on Cameron Diaz.

3. The New York Post could be in trouble for publishing the transcripts from a bug in New York Governor George Pataki's office.

4. Murdoch has abandoned plans to expand his television empire to China after getting some flack from government officials there.

5. With Chinese TV off-limits, Murdoch is pursuing "dysfunctional" websites.

6. Murdoch's son, and once-apparent heir, is not happy with daddy's company, and took a lot of money before quitting. Murdoch's mother says the family may lose the company.

With all of that in mind, it's time to present my other Idea of the Week, the Foxblocker.

Salt Lake City, Utah, mayor Rocky Anderson protested his city's guest-in-chief Monday.

President Bush was in Salt Lake City, Utah, Monday to address more than 6,000 people at the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) annual convention. While there, he tried once again to defend our failures in Iraq.

Meanwhile, thousands gathered outside the convention to protest Bush. Among those leading the protest was the city's mayor, Rocky Anderson.

All of this is significant because in November, Utah was the redest of the red states. Bush enjoyed a larger margin of victory there than in any other state.


This veteran is an example of true patriotism.

Meanwhile, one veteran inside the convention also protested Bush. His protest was so creative, it's my Idea of the Week.

Bill Moyer, a 73-year-old veteran, was seen wearing "Bullshit Protector" flaps over his ears while Bush addressed the VFW convention. Unfortunately, I had to look to the Canadian press for that story.

In the spirit of that brave veteran, download your own "Bullshit Protectors."

Pat Robertson is once again spewing un-Christian garbage.

Pat Robertson is apologizing for another stupid remark. That remark is causing an international stir.

Describing the remark, the folks at Democracy for America said:

"The Bible tells us 'thou shall not kill.' We consider it a key value to live by. It's a shame that Rev. Pat Robertson, the self-appointed leader of America's so-called Christian right, does not.

Robertson's fatwah, calling for the assassination of the president of Venezuela...in the name of keeping access to a 'huge pool of oil'...exposed the warped values of many religious radicals with the ear of the president of the United States."

This is the same Pat Robertson that said gay people were responsible for the September 11 attacks. It's also the same Pat Robertson who makes millions off African diamond mines while claiming to minister to lost souls. It's the same Pat Robertson who regularly speaks in favor of the Iraq war and tougher immigration controls.

So, let's review. Thou shall not kill. Unless, of course, thou shall kill the leader of Venezuela, a Mexican immigrant, or an Iraqi. Therefore, thou shall not kill all who are not brown-skinned.

Thanks for clearing that up, Pat.

Supreme Court nominee John Roberts is a mystery to me.

Let me be completely upfront. I don't know what to think of Bush's Supreme Court nominee, John G. Roberts, Jr. I'm doing my best to assemble various information before I make a decision. To that end, I present some of what I've assembled below.

The Washington Post reported Friday that Judge Roberts has previously advocated a national identification card and opposed legal efforts to strengthen women's rights. Both positions could pose a problem for his conservative supporters. Nobody wants to be perceived as anti-woman, and true conservatives get physically sick (or at least they used to) at the mention of nationalized ID.

Also on the woman-hating front, Roberts was opposed to the nomination of the woman he could replace. Roberts has also questioned the very existence of female attorneys. All the while, he was criticizing the man who will preside over his confirmation hearings.

This is the same John Roberts that has denied being a member of the ultra-right Federalist Society. Their directory indicates otherwise.

On the other hand, this is the same John Roberts that helped win a landmark civil rights case, Romer v. Evans.

Meanwhile, the DNC continues its push for more access to his previous legal work. I completely support that effort. Perhaps with that information, we'll have a better idea of how this Supreme-to-be really operates.

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison's re-election may not be so certain.

Senior Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison is no longer enjoying her usually high approval ratings. In the latest Survey USA Poll, her ratings slip across the board. Some of her marks have fallen by as many as 10 points.

I won't speculate as to the cause in Kay's falling numbers. I will, however, reprint what her lone Democratic opponent, Barbara Ann Radnofsky, had to say: "recent news reports showed that Senator Hutchison has abandoned the issues on which she based her announcement to seek re-election, choosing to focus on three issues our campaign identified: veterans’ affairs, education, and health care. She has crawfished on a variety of issues our campaign raised."

Radnofsky has been working hard and aggressively traveling the state to build support. It should be an interesting race.

Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour has pretty much been able to say whatever he wants without the Magnolia state's press checking him on it. Thankfully, the Mississippi Democratic Party has finally started to.

Sam Hall, the party's new Communications Director has started collecting Haley's lies, putting them with the information that proves them false, and redistributing it all to lazy reporters. It's part of a collection Sam calls "Half-Truth Haley."

Haley's recent lies deal with a contest between my two favorite states. It also deals with the biggest fraud the GOP has ever put on the American people: so-called tort reform. That said, here's "Half-Truth Haley" #6:

Gov. Haley Barbour's most recent column makes preposterous claims about the impact of tort reform on the business community. The governor says that the lack of tort reform hurt Mississippi's economic development viability and that because of new laws enacted a once-fledgling insurance industry has returned to our state. The real truth is below...

HALF THE TRUTH

"Even companies such as Toyota said Mississippi'’s legal climate was one of the reasons the automobile manufacturer decided not to locate one of its plants in our state."

THE WHOLE TRUTH

Texas, the eventual winner of the Toyota plant, was also listed as a "judicial hellhole," but offered a better proposal to Toyota than did Mississippi.

The governor makes his claims based on a letter he coerced from Toyota Senior Vice President Dennis Cuneo. However, Cuneo had prior to the letter praised Mississippi and its political leadership under Gov. Ronnie Musgrove in a unique statement made to the press regarding a site that went unpicked.

"It is not Toyota's usual policy to comment on other sites we look at as part of our selection process, but in this case I'd like to make an exception for Mississippi," said Cuneo. "We were very impressed with the potential site in Mississippi and the bi-partisan spirit of government officials with whom we worked. This was a difficult decision for us, and we had to choose from several attractive options." (Mississippi Business Journal, Feb. 24, 2003)

It would be interesting to see if Toyota or any other business could find the same bi-partisan spirit in a Barbour administration as was found under his Democratic predecessor. But we digress.

To say Mississippi was passed over because of a lack of tort reform based on its "judicial hellhole" rating from a partisan organization does not hold water, especially when Texas' judicial system was ranked 46th in the nation by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In fact, in 2003, Mississippi and Texas were lumped together by the U.S. Chamber as being at the bottom of the judicial heap.

The U.S. Chamber said "those states perceived as having the worst performance were Mississippi, West Virginia, Alabama, Louisiana and Texas."

Of course, how much stock can you put into the U.S. Chamber's label of a state being a "judicial hellhole" when they say their research "find(s) a majority of states deserve a grade of fair to poor?"

The truth is that Toyota picked Texas over Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and Arkansas because the Lone Star State put together a better package. San Antonio is home to a beautiful riverwalk, a rejuvenated downtown area with retro standards and brick streets and an NBA franchise. Since that wasn't enough, Texas provided $133 million in incentives to Toyota.

Even after all of that, Cuneo, the Toyota VP, said two other major factors swayed the automotive company's decision to the Texas site:

1) $15 million in state funds committed to create two separate rail accesses for the auto plant;

2) a $27 million commitment to train the 2,000 workers to be employed by Toyota in San Antonio.

In the end, a lack of tort reform did not hurt economic development in Mississippi. A much larger, much wealthier state just out-bid us, and the governor should tell the truth about it.

Play it again, Sam.

Long known as one of the most conservative newspapers anywhere, the Dallas Morning News editorial page is putting some heat on the Republicans lately. When a conservative paper (published in a state where being conservative is an Olympic-level sport) goes after the GOP, you know things are bad.

Earlier this month, the News asked a simple question: "Why have so many conservatives rushed to the defense of White House operatives Karl Rove and Lewis "Scooter" Libby, who are under investigation for their role in the possibly illegal leaking of CIA operative Valerie Plame's name?"

That question was part of a piece written by Tom Pauken, a Dallas businessman who served in the Reagan administration and was a military intelligence officer in Vietnam.

Pauken sums up his argument this way: "Isn't it in our national interest to find out who was responsible for that misinformation rather than simply take the Republican party line on the Plame affair? Conservatives must decide which is more important: the good of our country or the good of the Republican Party."

I couldn't agree more.

This past weekend, the News posed another good question to the GOP. This time, they put the question to party chairman Ken Mehlman: "If word gets out that Republicans can't govern in the reddest of red states, how can they govern anywhere?"

The News editorial board writes: "We recommended some of these leaders for office, and we're beginning to wonder why. If something doesn't change, Republicans are going to have a tough time explaining why they should govern here and elsewhere."

It won't happen soon enough.

The folks at Democratic Undergound make a weekly listing of the "Top Ten Conservative Idiots."

It's the kind of webpage I would do if I had the time (and no need to keep a job).

I'll be reposting the link every Monday so you can keep up with the list from week to week.

Enjoy!

After about a week of completely unnecessary and utterly tasteless action on the part of sheep-like Republicans near Crawford, Texas, things are finally starting to look up for the folks at Camp Casey.

For those playing the home version, the area known as Camp Casey is a makeshift camp started by Cindy Sheehan on August 6. Cindy's 24-year-old son Casey was killed last year while serving in the Iraq war. Cindy started the protest vigil on Prarie Chapel Road, the two-lane road leading to President Bush's ranch. Cindy, of Vacaville, California, has vowed to remain at Camp Casey through Bush's monthlong ranch vacation unless he meets with her and other grieving families.

With the exposition taken care of, let's review the most recent acts of Republican depravity.

A number of anti-grieving-mom rallies have been staged by Bush supporters.

One angry conservative was arrested this week for destroying a memorial to the fallen troops. Apparently, the only way angry Texas Redknecks can express themselves is by destroying things (or people) with chain-dragging pick-up trucks. The destruction of crosses and flags is normally offensive to those on the right. Apparently, there are exceptions. Most troubling about this part of the story is that it took the press two days (much longer than usual) to get the suspect's name. I would suspect it has something to do with his close ties to the Republican Sheriff and Precinct 4 Commissioner.

Another angry conservative fired shots across from the vigil. He wouldn't confirm or deny that he was sending a message.

Speaking of the Commissioner, he and his fellow Commissioners (which, here in Texas, run county government) had an action item on their most recent agenda that would have banned the folks at Camp Casey (or anybody else) from their roadside posts for two miles around Bush's ranch. Current county ordinances ban anyone from gathering along that particular roadside for a quarter-mile. The Precinct 4 Commissioner is pushing another proposal that would ban anyone for more than four miles. I have yet to come across the results of the Commissioners' Court meeting, but I suspect today's news makes it a moot point.

That brings me to the positive developments I mentioned at the start of this post. An Army veteran is allowing Camp Casey to relocate to his property. That will take the vigil off the roadside and put it about a mile away from Bush's ranch. Their current location is more like two miles away from the ranch. With the relocation comes news that more prominent people are joining the vigil (see the above link for more details).

Tonight, in some 1500 locations across the country, compassionate and supportive Americans will gather in candlelight vigils to honor Cindy's work. Those that can't attend can take part in an online vigil. I'm currently scheduled to attend the vigil in Plano, Texas, but my work schedule may keep me from it.

As for my take, Bush should meet with this grieving mother. She sacrificed her son for his war. All she wants is one hour out of his monthlong vacation. He's had time to ride his bike and attend fundraisers. Surely he can give her an hour.

It's been a while since I posted a "Crap Comment of the Day." I've found it's better for my blood sugar to avoid them. That said, the efforts by Rapture Republicans to turn America into the next Afghanistan have just given me too much to work with.

Here's today's "Crap Comment of the Day:"

"I've heard a lot recently about Terri Schiavo. She was murdered by a combination of an adulterous husband, a corrupt court and a medical establishment with no conscience."

Here's who said it:

Jerry Sutton, first vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention, railing against American courts during this weekend's so-called "Justice Sunday II" broadcast.

You can read the article it came from here.

At best, this guy is an idiot or simply ignorant of the facts. At worst, he's a manipulative liar. Seeing as how he was involved with the so-called "Justice Sunday II," I suspect the latter.

I happily present new evidence today that the notion of liberal bias in the media is crap.

As reported by Editor and Publisher, the Washington Post "has no plans to withdraw its co-sponsorship of a controversial Sept. 11 memorial walk being organized by the Department of Defense. "

The article continues:

But Rick Weiss, a Post science reporter and co-chair of the Washington Post unit of the Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild, noted the hypocrisy of the paper's involvement, since it bars reporters from participating in partisan events. "It is dismaying, to say the least, that I can be fired for participating in a peace march while my employer feels free to co-sponsor an event that so blatantly beats the drum of war," Weiss stated.

Alleged partisanship aside, journalistic ethics tend to frown on nationalism, too. At least they used too.

First Lady Laura Bush announced today the hiring of a new White House Chef. This comes six months after firing the last White House Chef, one of the remaining relics of the Clinton administration.

The Hypocrisy? When First Lady Hillary Clinton was accused of being involved of the firing of White House employees, the Republicans spent millions of dollars investigating it and found absolutely nothing.

Yummy.

Texas Democrats finally have more than one reason to get excited about November 2006, and maybe even March 2006.


Chris Bell made his run for the Governor's Mansion official yesterday.

Topping the ballot will be the race for Governor. With his appearance in Austin yesterday, former Congressman Chris Bell (ousted by Tom DeLay's redistricting) made his run for the job official. After exploring a run for months he revealed his decision to bloggers and other supporters via e-mail July 28.

Bell will face at least one other Democrat in the primary. A brother and sister pair from Fort Worth are running for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, respectively. They're long shots, but I admire their drive. My vote is far from decided, and they could get it. They do have a very slight advantage in being the first to officially declare their candidacies. So far, she's the only declared Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor.

The spoilers in the race come from an independent campaign gaining steam and a GOP primary that could pull Democratic primary voters across the aisle.


Kindy Friedman asks voters, "Why the Hell not?"

That independent spoiler is legendary Texas author, musician, and humorist Kinky Friedman. Running as an independent for anything in Texas is extremely difficult, but a lot of people like Kinky. He has vast appeal to the middle and to liberals who are frustrated with repeated failures and squabbles on the part of the Texas Democratic Party establishment.

Another Texas author (and liberal), Molly Ivins, is said to be helping Kinky. She's the brains behind his excellent slogan. This Texas liberal is also giving Kinky a serious look. As per Texas election law, in order to sign Kinky's massive petition drive liberals like me cannot vote in the Democratic primary. It's a tough decision, but so far it's the direction I'm leaning in.

On the GOP side, Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton...skip a few...Strayhorn (a.k.a. One Tough Wife) is looking to crossover Democrats to help her beat the sitting governor Rick Perry. The Austin American-Statesman reports:

Strayhorn shot back Tuesday on Austin radio station KVET-FM: "November is great, but first I need you to vote on March 7. I want Republicans, Democrats, independents. All are welcome," Strayhorn said. "And bring all your friends with you."

Elsewhere on the ballot are a race for Attorney General and the race to unseat Tom DeLay.


David Van Os is Melder's choice for Attorney General

David Van Os is my choice for Texas Attorney General, regardless of who else may enter the race. I've been a longtime admirer of Mr. Van Os. He is a student of this state's populist roots and will make the A.G.'s office do what it's supposed to do: represent the people.

The incumbent Republican A.G. Greg Abbott worked hard to bring tort reform to Texas. That's after he won his own personal injury lawsuit. That makes him the honorary conductor on the Republican Hypocrisy Express.


Nick Lampson could be getting revenge.

Another race of interest is in Congressional District 22, the home of Tom DeLay. Nick Lampson, another victim of DeLay's redistricting, will take on the King of Corruption at home.

He's been doing his best to keep DeLay's ethical problems on the public radar screen, and had a good day Friday. A federal grand jury in Fort Lauderdale indicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff, someone whom Tom DeLay called one of his "closest and dearest friends," on five counts of wire fraud and one count of conspiracy.

Meanwhile, the FEC is also looking into DeLay's activities, and the American Jewish Committee thinks DeLay is "insidious" to speak at today's Justice Sunday II. Haliburton seems to be the only group happy with DeLay, as they just got the same amout of money the Veterans Affairs administration needs.

An article in the August 5 edition of the Dallas Voice has the Rapture Republicans admitting they're behind in the public relations battle over gay marriage in Texas.

Let's take two of the more interesting quotes. The first is from Reed Bogle, a board member of the Lesbian, Gay Rights Lobby of Texas, and the full time staffer hired to coordinate the "No Nonsense in November" campaign in the Dallas area.

Bogle said she believes that the only people who are really aware of the ballot measure are the "“fundamentalists and us."” As the opposition campaign educates fair-minded people about the measure and the Legislature'’s failures this year, more support will be gained, she said.

"The soccer moms don't know what is on the ballot,"” Bogle said. "When you tell them this is what they did instead of fixing education, they just hit the roof."

Now, here's the other side.

Cathie Adams, president of the Dallas-based Texas Eagle Forum, said the proponents of the measure have not yet organized or started raising funds.

"“I have been very impressed by the speedy way that the opponents of this have organized,"” said Adams, whose organization lobbied in Austin this year for the anti-gay-marriage amendment. "“Definitely, they have a head start."

Voters go to the polls on November 8, 2005.

Another news item worth noting:

I'm marking my calendar now (and you should, too) for the Texas Freedom Network's "10 Years for Texas" Conference and Gala. The dates are Friday, September 30, and Saturday, October 1.

And now, some technical assistance:

Often my blog entries will link back to stories in the mainstream press. Sometimes, to view their websites, you need a registration. As that is the case, I'm told this website might be of some value.

As this is written, I'm making my final preparations for another trip across the south. I'm headed to Starkville this weekend to take part in a fraternity brother's wedding. I'll also help celebrate the cold beer decision (exactly as one should).

I'll have my laptop with me, so there's always a possibility I'll post from the road. Before I go, here are the latest news items of interest to me. Look for a full update on the Texas school funding crisis when I return early next week.

Texas Governor Rick Perry says his primary opponent, Comptroller Carole Keeton...skip a few...Strayhorn (a.k.a. one tough wife), is "selling her soul" by taking money from trial lawyers. As the Dallas Morning News reported yesterday, Perry took some of their money, too. He just laundered it through a couple of PACs. It looks like that Republican Hypocrisy Express is right on time for its regular Austin stop.

Lawrence Teeter, a criminal defense attorney who tried to free Robert F. Kennedy's assassin since 1994, is dead. Of more notoriety than the defendant was the defense. It was very Manchurian Candidate, complete with CIA brainwashing.

Starkville's Ward 4 Alderman, Richard Corey, has an alter ego in Tuscaloosa. My thanks to Adam Telle for this story.

The only declared Democrat in the race for Texas Attorney General (and my favorite candidate for any office), David Van Os, has revamped his website.

Jim Wallis of Sojourners Magazine (to which I subscribe) has an op-ed in this morning's New York Times.

What the first student alderman couldn't do, the second will.

Ward 4 Alderman Richard Corey, while calling in to the "J.T. and Dave Show" on Supertalk Mississippi to discuss electronic voting machines, confirmed that the Starkville Board of Alderman will take up the issue of selling cold beer at tomorrow night's meeting. Corey's prompt, short, to-the-point answer indicated his belief that a change to the city's beer ordinance allowing for the sale of "refrigerated" beer will pass.

Sources close to the Aldermen tell me that the issue has been discussed privately between the mayor and board. Every member of the board, save one, seems to be in line to vote for the change. Ward 3 Alderman P.C. McLaurin is the only rumored holdout.

The Starkville Daily News reported the board's agenda this morning.

A hectic work schedule, a slow dial-up connection, and lots of travel won't keep me from blogging. They'll only slow me down. Sometimes they'll really slow me down.

That said, I'm back. You can already check out the recently added links. You can also expect some more updates on items I've been following, especially school finance here in Texas.